On the Beat: Heavy-metal comedian bound for Buzzbin

Don Jamieson is a stand-up comedian, who will perform at downtown Canton's Buzzbin Shop on Monday, as well as the co-host of VH1's “That Metal Show.”

Dan Kane CantonRep.com entertainment editor @DKaneREP

As a kid in New Jersey, Don Jamieson was a disciple of the band Kiss.

"My first album was 'Destroyer.' Every square inch of my bedroom was covered with Kiss posters, even the ceiling," Jamieson recalled. "My mom always said, 'Where is all this leading?' And 35 years later, I'm interviewing the guys from Kiss on television."

Jamieson is now a stand-up comedian who will perform at downtown Canton's Buzzbin Shop on Monday, as well as the co-host of VH1's "That Metal Show." In its sixth year, the talk show's guests have included the likes of Sammy Hagar, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Joe Satriani, Alice Cooper, Slash and Rob Zombie.

Jamieson also is an Emmy Award winner for his work with comedy partner Jim Florentine on HBO's "Inside the NFL," for which they wrote, produced and performed in sports-themed skits.

Q. So Ohio is becoming a home away from home for you?

A. "It started with my friend Tim 'Ripper' Owens, who used to sing with Judas Priest. He opened up a rock 'n' roll bar in Akron and I started coming out and playing, and now I'm coming to Buzzbin. Because of 'That Metal Show,' I've found alternative venues to work in, mainly rock clubs, that most comics wouldn't traditionally play in. I played someone's backyard last time I came through Ohio. So basically, if you have a microphone and some cash, I'll come to Ohio."

Q. How would you describe your style of comedy?

A. "I'd say more on the edgy side, for sure. My favorite comics are people like Andrew Dice Clay, Richard Pryor and George Carlin, those guys are some of my influences. I definitely talk about music because a lot of my life is rooted in heavy metal. I talk about how I bought a house on the Jersey shore two months before Sandy hit, and my great real-estate instincts. My take on my girlfriend is a little different than most comics, who usually bitch about their wives and girlfriends. I talk about how out of my league mine is."

Q. Who have been some of your favorite guests on 'That Metal Show'?

A. "I like guys who are very outspoken and have an attitude, like Phil Anselmo (Pantera) and Dave Mustaine (Megadeth). I want them to come on and be them. I want the cavemen ... Alice Cooper is the greatest. He's like a comic, he's like Bill Cosby. He'll tell this long funny story, then there's a killer punch line at the end."

Q. Have any guests shown up very wasted?

A. "Marilyn Manson was a fun interview considering he dragged a bottle and a half of absinthe in. It was a little bit like babysitting a 5-year-old. But I respect the guy, that's the way he wants to be perceived by his audience. He's one of the last quote-unquote rock stars left out there. Of course, we had to edit most of the interview out."

Q. Because of profanity?

A. "We left most of the profanity. We edited the AIDS and rape jokes."

Q. So you're a metalhead in real life?

A. "I never liked any other music. I don't come home and put on cool jazz."

Q. You've had a long run on "That Metal Show" — will it run forever?

A. "We'll do it till we're 90. Change the name to 'That Metal Hip'!"

Q. Let me guess: You were a smart-ass in high school.

A. "I was. But I was never the class clown. My comedy was way more devious."

Q. You started off at MTV when you were 21. What was that like?

A. "I was a writer for about 10 years. I was there in the days of Martha Quinn, Adam Curry and Downtown Julie Brown. I was there in the cool days. MTV was breaking everything — music, fashion, comedy. That's where my creative life started, but I still wanted to do more."